Container



Dec. 9, 1941.

J. M. HOTHERSALL CONTAINER "Filed Dec. 3, 1938 INVENT R. 21.

ATTORNEY5 Patented Dec. 9, 1941 2,265,167 comma John M. Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. Y., asslgnor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y.', a

' corporation of New Jersey Application December 3, 1938, Serial No. 243,849

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to containers having removable locked on covers and has particular reference to a contractible two piece lock clamp ring seal for holding the cover in place on the container during shipment and storage.

An object of the invention is the provision of a contractible lock clamp ring seal for a container wherein the ring seal is of a simple and inexpensive construction comprising only two pieces which cooperate in holding the cover onto the container in a fluid tight joint and with a pressure which is evenly distributed around the entire circumference of the container.

Another object is the provision in a container ring seal of this character of a locking member which when in locking position flts tightly against the seal conforming to the shape thereof so that v the smooth outer surface of the seal is continued throughout the region of the locking member thereby eliminating projecting parts on the seal.

Another object is the provision of such a ring seal wherein point contact 'is provided between the seal and the container parts thereby insuring easy sliding movement oi the ring part and equally distributed pressure entirely around the container when the seal is drawn tight and locked in sealing position Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper end of a container having a cover locked in container closing position by a sealing ring and embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the sealing ring in position on the container but in unlocked condition; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views of one side of the upper end of the container, the views being taken substantially along vertical planes indicated by the respective lines 2-3 and 4-1 in Fig. 1.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention l6 which fits snugly into the container mouth when the cover is on the container.

The upper portion of the vertical side wall section 16 merges into a curved flange H which conforms to the shape of the curved seat portionof the container curl i2 and overhangs the same when the cover is in container closing posithe drawing illustrates the upper end of a cylinclosed by a cover ll having a countersunk panel I! which merges into a vertical side wall section tion, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A gasket ill of rubber or rubber compound is interposed between the container edge curl and the cover flange.

The cover I! is clamped by an annular sheet metal contractible sealing split ring member 2| applied in container sealing position for shipment and storage after being filled with its product. The sealing ring in cross section is preferably'of U or channel shape having an outer vertical wall section 22 which-merges into upper and lower substantially horizontal wall or leg sections 23, 24, respectively.

The inner edge portion of the upper leg section 23 merges into a curved section 25 which connects with an upwardly flared cam flange 26. The lower leg section 24 similarly merges into a curved section 21 which connects with a depending flared cam flange 28. These cam flange sections 26, 28 serve as cam surfaces for readily centering the ring relative to the cover flange and the body edge curl when the ring is applied to the container. The curved sections 25, 21 are provided with inwardly bent bumps or protuber ances 29 which are struck out from the metal of the sealing ring at spaced intervals along its length.

When in position on the container the sealing ring extends entirely around the upper end thereof with the horizontal legs 23, 24 overlapping the cover flange and the container edge curl.

The ring protuberances 29 in the upper leg 23 engage against the top of the cover flange ll,

while the protuberances 29 in the lower leg engage under the bottom portion iii of the con- This lever is also U or channel lever leg sections 34. These pivot lugs carry a pivot pin 31 which centers in a pair of vertically spaced lugs 38 formed at an inner end of the sealing ring 2|. Lugs 38 are preferably cut out out of the leg sections 23, 24 of the ring and are bent outwardly at right angles thus projecting laterally from the ring outer wall section 22.

The opposite end of the outer wall section 22 of the sealing ring is cut away as at 4| and the adjacent ends of the leg sections 23, 24 are spread apart or bifurcated thereby forming a yoke or fork section 42. The outer end of said fork section overlaps the leg sections 34 of lever 32 as best shown in Fig. 2 and is connected thereto by a pivot pin 43 which extends through the lever intermediate its length. Anembossment 44 in the lever outer wall 33 adjacentthe pivot pins gives added strength to the wall at this region. The leg sections 23, 24 of the ring are cut away as at 45 adjacent the fork section 42 and thus provide a flexing section in the ring to compensate for bending of the ring when it is locked into place on the container.

When the sealing ring 2| is assembled on the container as hereinbefore explained the locking lever 32 isin open or unlocked position as shown in Fig. 2. To lock the ring in clamping position it is merely necessary to swing the lever as a hinge inwardly toward the container on its pivot pin 31. This action draws the sealing ring taut around the container, the beads 29 sliding into position and thereby pressing inwardly against the cover flange I1 and the bottom section l3 of p the container edge curl l2. This "clamps them and the gasket I8 together tightly in a fluid leakproof joint. The flexible section 45 in the ring permits of the inward movement of the ends of the ring in this clamping action.

The locking lever 32 in this ring clamping position is flat against the ring in overlapping relation as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the lever conforming to the cross sectional contour of the ring. The forked ends 42 of the ring also lie within the plane of the lever being locked in place against accidental opening by a locking projection 46 which is formed in the lever and which snapsover a similar projection 41 formed in the upper leg 23 of the ring.

If desired the lever may be sealed in this locked position by a wire'seal. For this purpose there is provided a hole 48 (Fig. 2) in the upper leg 34 of the lever and a similar hole 49 in the upper leg 23 of the sealing ring. These holes are in register when the leveris in ring locking position and the parts may thus be tied together by the wire.

Provision is also made for readily unlocking the lever 32 from its clamping position of Fig. 1. For this'purpose there is provided a pair of embossed finger hold or pry projections on the lever adjacent the hole 48. By applying an outward pressure on these projections the lever may be readily dislodged from its locking position.

This construction of two piece sealing ring and locking lever provides an easily operableeflicient device for holding the cover l4 on the container I I during shipment and storage. When the lever is in ring locking position the entire upper. end of the container is smooth and free of any pro- It is thought that the invention. and many of' its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. The combination with a metallic container having an edge curl around its open end and a removable cover having a marginal flange fitting over the curl, of a contractible clamping ring of U'-shape in cross section including substantially parallel side walls, each wall having a plurality 'of independent spaced inwardly projecting protuberances respectively engageable with the cover flange and the container curl in point contact therewith for pressing the same together when the ring is contracted, said protuberances reducing frictional contact between the ring and the cover and container parts and permitting easy sliding movement therebetween when the ring is contracted, and a lever for contracting said ring, one end of said lever being pivotally connected to one end of said ring and the opposite endof said lever being pivotally connected intermediate its length to the opposite end of the ring, thereby providing a connection between the ring ends, said lever when shifted into locking position drawing the ring taut around the container with the lever lying flat against the ring.

2. The combination with a metallic container having an edge curl around its open end and a removable cover having a marginal flange fitting over the curl, of a contractible clamping ring of U-shape in cross section including substantially parallel side walls terminating in outwardly flared extensions to facilitate attachment and proper seating of the ring, each of said parallel ring side walls having a plurality of independent spaced inwardly projecting protuberances respectively engageable with the cover flange and the container curl in point contact therewith for pressing the same together when the ring is contracted, said protuberances reducing frictional contact between the ring and the cover and container parts and permitting easy sliding movement therebetween when the ring is contracted, and a lever for contracting said ring, one end of said lever being pivotally connected to one end of said ring and the opposite end of said lever being pivotally connected intermediate its length to the opposite end of the ring, thereby providing a connection between the ring ends, said lever when shifted into locking position drawing the ring taut around the container with the lever lying flat against the ring, and means on said ring engageable with said lever for removably locking the ring in clamping engagement with said container,

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 

